Posted on 05/10/2002 2:20:39 AM PDT by 2Trievers
LONDON (Reuters) - Cannon balls retrieved from ancient shipwrecks are wreaking thunderous havoc centuries later -- by exploding on the desks of archaeologists, New Scientist magazine said Wednesday.
|
|
In one case, a ball retrieved from a 1691 wreck heated up to a few hundred degrees after several minutes in the open air, began to glow a dull red and started burning its way through the pine table.
"There was smoke coming off the bench," he told the magazine.
Child said in several cases the prized artifacts had split open many weeks after they were pulled from the sea.
He said the explosions happened because the balls had developed a lattice-like porous structure over hundreds of years that reacted with oxygen to produce massive amounts of heat.
The combination of oxygen and sea salt caused rapid oxidation resulting in the balls "exploding" open and crumbling into bits.
here are some excerpts from their book:"
Removes super strong glue from fingers and other unwanted surfaces.
Removes unwanted fingers from cookie jars, purses, wallets, and your personal stash of duct tape and WD-40.
Car owners with leaky oil pans: Spray on concrete driveways to remove unsightly oil spots.
Homeowners with annoying neighbors: Spray on neighbors' property to avoid the build-up of unsightly junk cars.
Removes dried-on wax from chrome bumpers.
Avoid embarrassment: Use WD-40 to remove election stickers immediately after you find our your candidate lost the election.
WD-40 was used to free a boy whose arm was stuck up to his shoulder in a sewer.
Does your kid keep getting his head stuck in iron gate railings? Don't send him out to play without a preventive squirt behind each ear.
Spray on box-spring mattresses to remove squeak and avoid embarrassing looks from the downstairs neighbors.
Spray on mice to remove squeak and avoid elephant stampedes.
Kills thistle plants.
Spray on entire lawn. At first, your mowing time will be cut in half. Eventually, you'll kill all the grass and will never have to mow again.
Guitarists' best friend: Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
Road managers' best friend: Cleans up overlubricated guitar players.
Removes cat paw marks from furniture and the hood of your car.
Spray on your furniture and car to keep cats from walking on your stuff in the first place.
Prevents squirrels from climbing the bird-feeder pole.
Prevents your dog from climbing on visitors' legs.
Lubricates playground equipment-swings, teeter-totters, slides, etc.
Spray down your kids' backsides so they don't stick to those hot metal playground slides. Turns "Yikes!" into "Wheeee!"
Keeps grandfather clocks lubricated and running smooth.
Keeps grandfathers lubricated and running smooth.
"Um, Tim, I'm pretty sure it's that stuff Grandpa keeps sippin' from that Mason jar that keeps him lubricated."
"Oh."
Housekeepers: Spray on floor for that just-waxed sheen.
Bodybuilders: Spray on body for that just pumped-up sheen.
Removes rust from (and prevents rust from forming on) a variety of surfaces.
Removes teenage daughter's face from, and prevents her face from becoming adhered to, the telephone.
Spray on wooden outhouse toilet seat to prevent the wood from drying out, cracking, and causing painful splinters.
Spray on toilet seat to prevent hemorrhoids caused by prolonged sitting (it's hard to read the newspaper when you're sliding off the seat).
Shoppers: Stuck with a wobbly, sticky-wheeled shopping cart? Spray wheels with WD-40 to reduce wobbling and friction-less friction means faster shopping!
Shutterbugs: Stuck with slow 200-speed film after running out of 400- speed film? Spray the 200-speed film with WD-40--less friction means faster film!
Unfreeze frozen car door locks, or put an end to frozen car door locks with a preventive squirt when it gets real cold.
Put an end to your idiot cousin Edwin freezing his tongue to metal poles by spraying on a preventative coat of WD-40.
Click here to get back to index.
"Good idea, Tim. But we could show them our appendix." "Jim means the book's appendix. Unlike the human appendix, you can't just get rid of this portion of the book when you have a little side ache. WD-40 Company has received so many testimonial letters over the years, we couldn't fit them all in, so we added as many as we could fit below." (Note: Many of the uses that appear in the appendix have not been tested by the WD-40 Company, so use them at your own risk.)
Cleans sticky surfaces.
Removes dirt and grime in kitchen and bathroom.
Removes stickers/adhesives from glass.
Removes triple-track screens that are stuck.
Lubricates dirty or stuck locks and latches.
Lubricates and removes dirt and grime on sliding glass door tracks.
Removes dirt and grease from window screens.
Makes window shades roll easier.
Lubricates eyeglass hinges.
Works as a white glove finishing touch on plastic parts.
Removes dust from artificial flowers.
Removes starch residue from cold iron (make sure you unplug it first, of course).
Covers scratches on glass surfaces.
Cleans vacuum cleaner dials Acts as a wood polish.
Removes scratches from furniture.
Removes fingerprints from surfaces.
Waterproofs chimney for easier cleaning.
Lubricates vertical blinds.
Waxes floors.
Keeps ironing boards from sticking when folded.
Removes floodwater marks on paneling.
Cleans hearing aid.
Cleans plastic eyeglass lenses; removes smoked or scratched appearance.
Untangles jewelry chains.
Keeps wheelchair folding smoothly.
Cleans TV remote and VCR parts.
Lubricates wooden push-toys.
Fixes gummed-up watch.
Frees up barometric controls.
Protects and cleans antiques from rust and dust.
Fixes overwound watches.
Takes squeaks out of recliner with coasters.
Removes dirt and grime from sewing machines.
Cleans and lubricates vacuum motor.
Cleans filters in heating and air-conditioning units; makes filters more efficient and helps absorb odors.
Shields glass from paint.
Keeps sculptures clean and shiny.
Removes calcium deposits in dehumidifier.
Maintains electric shaver.
Loosens tight Lego blocks.
Removes tar from shoes.
Removes Easter-egg dye from linoleum.
Removes built-up mineral deposits from freezer grid.
Removes splattered grease on Formica walls.
Cleans silver plate and tray.
Quiets noisy garbage disposal.
Lubricates mixer when the beater-release won't release.
Lubricates blade agitator assemblies in food blenders.
Removes unwanted paint on refrigerator.
Cleans stove.
Cleans sink.
Lubricates coffee grinder/frozen parts.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.